There is a misperception about artists, that we just sit around waiting for inspiration, and then paint what and when we feel like it.
Artists who do that are usually hobbyists. Professionals know that life is easier when you have money, and if you want to sell, you need to paint what people want to buy, and then make yourself and your work visible and available.
Treating art-making as a business means many things are necessary:
- Figure out what people want.
- Learn to paint well.
- Pay attention to online marketing – using my website, an email newsletter, Instagram (nope, no Facebook or Twitter for this Central Calif. artist – I have standards and boundaries.)
- Keep in touch with real people that I know in real life rather than depend entirely on “likes” and “hearts”.
- Make sure that people know what I do. (Do you know?)
- Figure out what works and what is a waste of time and money.
- Pay attention to trends (remember coloring books for grown-ups?)
- Be willing to do odd jobs. (Oh yeah!)
- Be willing to accept commissions (I am and I do – murals, oil paintings, pencil drawings).
- Keep learning new skills.
I am reading Building a Story Brand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller. He is an author whose memoirs I have enjoyed for many years, and “suddenly” (how did he pull this off from a navel-gazing author?) he has become a very wise business coach. His podcast, Building a Story Brand is one of my favorites, both for his business acumen and his sense of humor. I trust this guy and just really like how he communicates.
This is what I have come up with after spending time with his book; I think it really summarizes what I do.
Making art you understand, about places and things you love, at prices that won’t scare you.
(There is a parenthetical addition to the end of this little blurb: “because buying art shouldn’t require a degree.)
Now I just have to figure out how to incorporate that into all my marketing efforts.
I’d really rather be painting or drawing, but sometimes an artist has to do what she has to do.
(With thanks to my longtime blog reader and virtual friend Marjie who helped me streamline the words)
